Al Kholood Captain William Troost-Ekong claims that the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo on Saudi Arabian football goes beyond winning trophies with Al Nassr.
The Portuguese superstar made the headlines when in 2023 he joined the club based in Riyad, after an awkward exit from Manchester United, which marked a decisive moment in his remarkable career.
With his arrival, the Saudi Pro League received unprecedented global attention, in which football fans, other elite players and media reporting as never before.
Despite the fanfare and high expectations, Ronaldo still has to secure a domestic trophy with Al Nassr, which appeals to debate about his success.
The Nigeria International, however, believes that assessing his impact only overlooks trophies of the broader influence he has had on Saudi football.
“He is the kind of player that you want in the competition because he attracts attention and I think he brings the best out of everyone,” Troost-Ekong told Flashscore.com in an interview without holds.
“He is so respected and so competitive at the highest level. To remove a trophy yet? I am sure it will frustrate him, but I think you should also respect other teams in the competition.
“We already have ITTIHAD Club, a historical team that has won the competition this season, such as (Karim) Benzema, Ngolo Kante, Fabinho, Steven Berg Wijn and others.
“The same for all Hilal who won so many (titles) with all their stars in previous years. They (have) also the Asian Cup, so there are fantastic teams in the competition and it's not easy.
“One man Ronaldo alone cannot win the competition or a cup. I am sure he will be fired before he leaves Nassr.”
Although he still has to win a title, the Real Madrid -legend has different personal data, including the first player in football history who scores against 200 different opponents.
In the 2023/24 season, Ronaldo yielded 35 league goals and surpasses the record of Abderrazak Hamdallah for most goals scored in a single Saudi Pro League campaign.
In the midst of constant rumors about a possible departure from Al Nassr, the 40-year-old is reportedly established to sign a contract extension, so that he would keep in the club through at least the World Cup 2026.
On Ronaldo several times opposite Ronaldo
Troost-Ekong also shared his unique experience to see Ronaldo several times during his career, from Serie A in Italy to the English Premier League and now the Saudi Pro League.
The Super Eagle stood for the first time opposite the Portuguese superstar during his stint near Udinese, when Ronaldo played for Juventus.
He remembered: “I was lucky to play against Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in the world. I played against him in Italy during his time with Juventus and I was with Udinese.
“Also in Watford and he was in Manchester United. I managed to beat him once in Udinese and Watford.”
Their rivalry took an unexpected turn when they met again in Saudi Aarabia “We met again in Saudi Aarabia. He really helped to stimulate the competition.
“He is the pioneer in Saudi, in the same way when he went to Italy to breathe new life into Serie A when he left Real Madrid.”
Reflections on the debut Saudi season
The defender describes his first season in Saudi Aarabia as a memorable experience, adapting to a new football culture and competes in addition to some of the world's top players.
Troost-Ekong joined Al Kholood after leaving the Greek Super League club Paok on a permanent deal through a free transfer.
The movement marked a new chapter in his career and offered new challenges and opportunities in the middle.
“Playing in Saudi Aarabia is a different experience and it is fun to be part of a project with big names and successful players,” he added.
“I enjoyed my first season with my team. We ended up in the middle table. For the first season in the top light it is something special and I am looking forward to continuing the journey next season.
“As a team captain I will learn more about the football culture in Saudi Arabia.”
In the recently closed season, the African player played in 32 games for the Noureddine Zekri team and scored two goals in games against Al Hilal and Al Kholood.
Shina OludareFlash score